ANNOUNCEMENTS for March 5, 2017-LENT 1

SUC ANNUAL MEETING: The 2016 Annual Meeting for Sackville United Church will be held TODAY on Sunday, March 5th at 1 pm. There will be a time for lunch and fellowship following the worship service, and before the meeting begins.

POTLUCK LUNCH: On Sunday, March 5, after the 11am service there will be a potluck lunch prior to the 1:00 p.m. Annual Meeting for Sackville United. Last name A-M should bring a main course (sandwiches, salad, etc.) and Last name N-Z should bring a dessert. Coffee, tea and juice will be provided. Please plan to attend this important lunch and annual meeting.

UPPER SACKVILLE ANNUAL MEETING: The 2016 Annual Meeting for Upper Sackville United Church will be held on Sunday, March 12th at 12:30pm

PASTORAL CHARGE MEETING: On Sunday, March 19 we will have a meeting of the pastoral charge to receive the recommendation of the joint search committee. Time to be announced.

LENTEN STUDY OPPORTUNITY UP ON SUC DISCERNMENT BOARD: An opportunity to join in the conversation on a subject that is important to us all: LIFE, DEATH, & AFTER: “A good death begins with living in the present,” says the Rev. Dr. Linda Yates, author of For The Death of Me: Accepting Death, Choosing Life.” Facing death can be difficult, and begins with living a meaningful life. In this resource for small groups or for individual spiritual study, we also explore issues of Medically Assisted Death and Euthanasia. What do you think about life after death? We learn how our worldview affects what we believe about life after death. LIFE, DEATH, & AFTER is a program from The Prayer Bench ministry, and offers three guided sessions. We will listen to an audio presentation together with a printed script provided in advance. Conversation and discussion will help us explore what we think and feel and believe.

FACEBOOK, WEBSITE and TELEPHONE TREES – ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF THE TEAM?: The Communications Group met recently and has posted several new circles of service on the discernment board. Please sign up if you are interested in being a part of the following:
– Facebook Enthusiast: Help make our FB page an enthusiastic and energetic place! (all ages welcome)
– Website Makeover: Would you like to envision an updated version of our webpage that reflects the energy and character of the pastoral charge? No technical skill required.

– Telephone Tree Callers: We have a small number of people in our community who do not have access to online materials. Help them stay informed and in touch!

REMITS: An extremely significant series of votes to determine the future direction of the United Church will be held over the coming year and a half. For a brief introduction to some of what we are being asked to consider, please visit the church website for a summary, or contact the church office for a print copy.

Would Someone You Know Appreciate a Pastoral Care Visit?: Pastoral care for SPC is generously being provided by Rev. Jean Ward. For any pastoral care needs, or if you know someone who might appreciate a visit, please contact Rev. Ward directly – 902-694-4372 or a.jean.ward@gmail.com

UCW COLLECTING SMALL ITEMS TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE: UCW continues to save the following items: Independent Grocery Tapes, pop tabs, plastic bread tabs, used postage stamps (1/4″ border), Campbell’s Soup Labels, the front cover of used Greeting Cards. All items can be left in the basket which is on the book shelf as you come in the main entrance of the church.

CENTERING PRAYER: Centering prayer group meets every Monday; all are welcome to join for one half hour of prayer together.

Check out the projects, ideas, and circles of interest on our Discernment Board (to the left of the sanctuary entrance):

Sign your name for something that interests you, or start a group of your own!

NEW: Be a part of the new Lenten study

NEW: Sign up to serve communion on occasion

Help host or attend our Wednesday morning coffee time co-hosted with Open Sky

Scripture:

Genesis 2: 15-17, 3: 1-7
Matthew 4: 1-11

Hymns:

We Have This Ministry, VU 510
Love Us Into Fullness, MV 81
Jesus, Tempted in the Desert, VU 115
We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection, VU 586
Offertory Response: Fresh as the Morning, MV 28, v.4 & chorus

Quotations to Ponder

Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection…when we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions…Self rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the “Beloved” Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.– Henri Nouwen
The Devil doesn’t need to invent any new temptations; the old ones work as well as they ever have. – Billy Graham

Calvin: DO you believe in the devil? you know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?

Hobbes: I’m not sure that man needs the help”

Bill Watterson

We can never be gods, after all- but we can become something less than human with frightening ease. – N. K. Jemisin, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms